From the author of the best-selling Library Lion comes a funny, heartfelt picture book about embracing the unusual, green scales and all.
Sally’s class is doing a science project, and Mrs. Henshaw is handing out eggs for hatching. “Mine looks different,” says Sally. “Don’t be difficult,” says Mrs. Henshaw. When Sally’s egg cracks, what emerges is something green and scaly with big yellow eyes. Argus isn't like the other chicks;he isn’t small and fuzzy, and he doesn’t like seeds and bugs. He’d rather eat other chicks (or children, as he grows even bigger). Watching the other kids playing with their identical chicks, Sally wonders, would she be better off without Argus? With sly humor and a subtle tug at the heartstrings, Michelle Knudsen hatches a story about learning not just to tolerate, but to love what is different, while Andrea Wesson’s endearing illustrations bring the tale to life with quirky details and offbeat charm.
Knudsen (Library Lion) never overplays her hand, but lets the story's laughs unfold naturally from the characters and circumstances. Her grasp of the life of the elementary school classroom is spot-on; this should become another favorite. —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Michelle Knudsen is the New York Times best-selling author of Library Lion,illustrated by Kevin Hawkes; Argus, illustrated by Andréa Wesson; Big Mean Mike,illustrated by Scott Magoon; and Marilyn’s Monster, illustrated by Matt Phelan,as well as the Trelian middle-grade fantasy trilogy and the Evil Librarian YA horror-comedy trilogy. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and is terrified of spiders.
Andrea Wesson has illustrated several books for children, including two middle-grade novels about Evangeline Mudd by David Elliott. She lives in Davis, California.
From the author of the best-selling Library Lion comes a funny, heartfelt picture book about embracing the unusual, green scales and all.
Sally’s class is doing a science project, and Mrs. Henshaw is handing out eggs for hatching. “Mine looks different,” says Sally. “Don’t be difficult,” says Mrs. Henshaw. When Sally’s egg cracks, what emerges is something green and scaly with big yellow eyes. Argus isn't like the other chicks;he isn’t small and fuzzy, and he doesn’t like seeds and bugs. He’d rather eat other chicks (or children, as he grows even bigger). Watching the other kids playing with their identical chicks, Sally wonders, would she be better off without Argus? With sly humor and a subtle tug at the heartstrings, Michelle Knudsen hatches a story about learning not just to tolerate, but to love what is different, while Andrea Wesson’s endearing illustrations bring the tale to life with quirky details and offbeat charm.
Praise
Knudsen (Library Lion) never overplays her hand, but lets the story's laughs unfold naturally from the characters and circumstances. Her grasp of the life of the elementary school classroom is spot-on; this should become another favorite. —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Author
Michelle Knudsen is the New York Times best-selling author of Library Lion,illustrated by Kevin Hawkes; Argus, illustrated by Andréa Wesson; Big Mean Mike,illustrated by Scott Magoon; and Marilyn’s Monster, illustrated by Matt Phelan,as well as the Trelian middle-grade fantasy trilogy and the Evil Librarian YA horror-comedy trilogy. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and is terrified of spiders.
Andrea Wesson has illustrated several books for children, including two middle-grade novels about Evangeline Mudd by David Elliott. She lives in Davis, California.
